Ladder-brace.



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UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

MELVILLE P. HAYWARD, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS.

LADDER-BRACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,780, dated January8, 1901.

Application filed May 31, 1900.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVILLE P. HAYWARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Quincy, in the county of Norfolk and State ofll/Iassachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLadder-Braces, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for bracing or strengthening ladders, oneobject being to securely brace a ladder of any length by simple andeective means adapted to be operated from lthe ground or at a point nearthe foot of the ladder.

A further object of the invention is to secure bracing devices to aladder in a manner not to interfere with the convenient use ortransportation of the ladder or in any wise weaken its construction.

The characteristic features of the invention and its details will befully described hereinafter and defined in the appended claim, inconnection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the inner surface of oneside of a ladder with my improvements applied thereto, the rungs of theladder being shown in section; and Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of thesame with the rungs broken away.

The reference-numeral l designates one of the side bars of a ladder, and2 the rungs thereof.

The mechanism hereinafter described in connection with one side of aladder will be duplicated at the other side thereof; but a descriptionof one will sufce for both.

3 designates a Wire cable secured at its upper end to a metallic strap4, bolted to the inner side of the bar 1 and formed with an eye 5 toreceive the cable. The lower end of the cable is secured to an eyebolt6, supported within a casing 7, bolted to the inner side of the laddernear its lower end and attached to one end of a coil-spring 8. Theeyebolt 6 extends through a stationary plate or partition 9 and belowthe latter is provided with a nut 10, by means of which the slack of thecable is adjusted. Normally the cable is drawn inward by the spring 8 tothe position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and its distention t-o theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 1 is Serial No. 18,563. CNO mOdeL)eected by means of a brace-arm 11, which is pivotally supported upon theside bar 1 of the ladder, at a point midway the length of the ladder, bya plate 12, from which projects a pivot 13. The outer end of the arm 11carries a pulley 14, pivotally secured to the arm and provided with aloop 15, which serves as a guard to prevent the cable from slipping offof the pulley when the brace-arm is in folded or closed position.

16 designates a lever fulcrumed upon a pin projecting from a plate 17,secured to the inner side of the ladder above the casing 7. This lever16 is connected by a rod 18 with the brace-arm 11, and the raising andlowering of the lever operates to raise and lower said arm, as isclearly illustrated by full and dotted lines in Fig. 1. On oppositesides of the fulcrum of the lever clasps 19 and 2O are provided to holdthe lever in either of its positions.

The utility and operation of the invention will be clear from theforegoing description, in connection with the drawings, and it will beapparent that the cable serves as a strong brace or truss, reinforcingand strengthening the ladder.

I would have it understood that the invention is not restricted to allof the details shown and that I reserve the right to make alterations inthe pivotal supports of the bracearm and lever and the other minordetails without departing from the scope of the invention.

While I have described this device asprovided with a cable, it isobvious that a chain or any other suitable flexible device may beemployed, if desired, in lieu thereof.

Although the brace is particularly adapted for single ladders, it willbe understood that the same is equally as effective when used upon thesections of a sectional or extension ladder.

The combination with a ladder, of bracing devices,comprisin ga cablesecured at one end on the inner side of the side bar of the ladder abovethe longitudinal center thereof, an eyebolt supported adjustably at theother side of the longitudinal center of the ladder, and having thelower end of the cable secured thereto; a spring secured to said eyeboltfor In t-esbimonywhereof I affix my signature retracnin'g the cable; andmeans for distendin' presence of two Witnesses. ing said cableconsisting of a brace-arm pivotally secured centrally between the endsof MELVILLE P' HAYWARD 5 the cable; a lever fulerumed upon the ladderWitnesses:

below the brace-arm, and a rod connecting MARY R`- LYONS,

said lever amd brace-arms. HENRY P. HAYWARD.

